Central Park in the 1800’s

Follow the development of Central Park in New York throughout the 1800’s with these interesting historical photos, maps, paintings, drawings and stereograms (click images to enarge).

Central Park’s original grand entrance on Fifth Avenue with policeman and guard house

Map of the lands included in the Central Park topographical survey June 17th 1856, and plan for the improvement of the Central park adopted by the commissioners June 3rd,1856

View in Central Park, New York, ca. 1859

General view of Central Park, 1860

The Dairy in Central Park, 1860

The Lake in Central Park, 1862

View of the Arbor on the Eastside near 5th Avenue, 1862

Central Park, 1863

This stereoview of Central Park from 1863 is labeled “Baseball Day.” Though no bases, bats or balls are visible, beyond the group in the foreground, the people are standing in the formation of a baseball diamond. The exact location of this photo is unknown.

The Skating Pond, Central Park, 1864

Central Park in the Summer, 1865

Entrance to Central Park at the corner of 5th Avenue and 59th Street, 1866

Vaux & Olmstead Map of Central Park, 1868

Back in 1868 you could ride a camel in Central Park.

The Lake-from-the-Terrace, 1868

View in 6th Avenue Between 55th and 57th Streets, Looking West, 1868

View of Bethesda Terrace, Central_Park, 1868

The Grand Drive at Central Park, 1869

The Spa, Central Park, 1870

The swings in Central Park, 1871

View on the Central Lake, 1872

The Terrace, Central Park,1872

Bethesda Fountain before sculptor Emma Stebbins famous bronze statue Angel of the Waters was installed in 1873

Entrance at 5th Avenue and 59th-street, Central park, 1866

The Mall in Central Park, 1890s

‘Cares and business and the work-a-day world vanish when you enter there’,1895